INDIO, California – When I interviewed Phoenix guitarist Christian Mazzalai just before the band’s headlining slot on Saturday night at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, he said that there would be a “big surprise.”

He wasn’t kidding.

Much to everyone’s disbelief, embattled R&B star R. Kelly came out to join the band on his own hit “Ignition,” and left people wondering whether the rumours of Daft Punk making an appearance were indeed daft. And they were.

Despite the anti-climactic duet, the French indie rockers – led by likeable frontman Thomas Mars – did a valiant job holding down the closing set, mixing their catchy hits with new tracks from their new album, “Bankrupt!”

Among the standouts were fan favourites “Lasso,” “Fences,” “Lisztomania,” and their latest single, “Entertainment.”

Mars frequently frolicked with the 100,000 fans at the front stage barrier, and towards the end, made his way down the middle of the floor, climbed up the soundboard scaffolding, and then hurled himself into the sea of people.

He then crowd surfed his way to the front again, with fans holding him up while he continued to sing, and jumped back on stage and bid everyone adieu.

On the downside, buzz band The xx failed to get the crowd moving with their brand of mope rock, and newly reformed Violent Femmes were horribly rusty, messing up bits of songs that they have been playing for decades.

Day Three acts at Coachella include Vampire Weekend, Wu-Tang Clan, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Social Distortion, and of course, fest closers Red Hot Chili Peppers.